Our story...

Our story begins with a silly idea whilst on holiday in the Dordogne has now culminated in our two families being the custodians of a house standing in one of the most unspoilt corners of rural France.

So how do you turn a silly idea into reality? The answer lies in the enthusiasm of those involved. Our previous holidays had taught us that France is a BIG country and when you've got kids in tow that matters. We drew an arc on a map; this was our maximum travelling distance from the channel. We decided the Charente would be our first area to visit (it was also an excuse for a parents' only long weekend).

Hundreds of potential property details were examined and analysed, after all this was going to be our home so it had to be right. When we had finished there were 8 properties left, so a trip was arranged in February. Why not wait till spring? We figured that if we found a property we liked and saw it during a freezing wet weekend in February, when it wasn't looking at its best, the odds were that it would look spectacular in the summer.

There's a saying about the best laid plans. To cut a long story short, we had looked at, and rejected, our list of properties and were feeling quite low. Then out of nowhere came a dream house set in a peaceful hamlet. We all immediately fell in love with La Maison D'Hibou and on the drive home our decision was made.

That decision now seems a lifetime ago and it feels like the house has always been a part of our families.

Our blissful 2 weeks was spent constructing a new pool terrace and steps from the house to the pool (don't fret at the photo opposite, the wine bottle were a temporary fixture until we put the steps back). The hand prints in the cement by the steps are of our children, they are a reminder that this house will be part of our families for many years to come.

I wish this web site could convey the tranquil hideaway nature of the house. The pleasure of getting up and drinking your coffee whilst sitting watching the horses in the fields opposite, or of riding a bike through the gently rolling countryside as the sun climbs into the sky. These are the reasons why people value their relaxation time so much. Judging by the number of people who want to book LMD we are not alone in seeking quality relaxation time. Our site goes from strength to strength with guests often booking their holidays years in advance. We have already taken confirmed bookings for the coming year and beyond, so the message is get in early!

As background, the house was originally constructed in the 17th Century. Its history can only be reliably traced back to the war years, we are still working on La Maison D'Hibou the early years! The house was owned for over 100 years by a local family called Fromentin, some of whom are buried in the local cemetery. The house was then bought by an English couple who carried out most of the modernisation work seen today. We hope that we can build on La Maison D'Hibou's rural charm and maintain its family home from home feeling.

Debbie, Helen, Mark & Chris